Young played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and earned All-American honors.

He attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California, and played high school football for the Amat Lancers.

[1] Young enrolled in the University of Southern California, where he played for the USC Trojans football team from 1965 to 1967.

Following his 1967 senior season, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.

He was also a member of The Hawaiians of the World Football League (WFL) in 1974.